Kale Chard Recipes

Unlike many items on fast food menus, this kale salad should cause no alarm if super-sized. Kale leaves are massaged and marinated in a delectable white bean vinaigrette. The beans used were very creamy inside, so I mashed a small portion to thicken the texture of the dressing.

These Greek white beans are unusually large (compared to the standard beans) and are aptly called "gigante" beans. They have a toothsome bite, which helped balance the texture of the salad. I also added sun-dried tomatoes for a pop of color. Serve this complete, nutritious salad with garlic toast and you'll have a light, healthy, yet tasty meal.

Here’s another Meatless Monday recipe for the beginning of the week. I wanted to feature a flavorful yet healthy one, so I prepared a baby kale salad with pomegranate dressing. I also added shredded carrots and spiced pecans for extra crunch and nutrition. And to reinforce the tart and sour taste of this salad, I also added dried cranberries.

Since the girls are on summer break, they've asked to join me in my morning workouts. After our workout is done, I put them to work helping me make lunch. A refreshing smoothie at the end of a jog is all the incentive they need!

Cooking with kids is a great way to instill healthy eating habits. Today we prepared an iron-filled potato and kalesalad. We also added sugar snap peas, asparagus, tomatoes and a little cheese.

Kale with pickled ginger is one of the healthiest and tastiest ways to get a meal packed with iron. I made my own pickled ginger and an Asian-inspired salad dressing with lemongrass, miso and sesame oil. The result is the perfect condiment for boiled kale.

The reason I've been trying to make iron-rich meals lately is that my sister-in-law, Sunny, was diagnosed with iron deficiency. It's a fairly common problem that primarily affects women. She had trouble with the iron pills, so it was suggested to us that we make her foods that are rich in iron. Because of this, I've been trying to cook more with kale.

This side dish couldn't be easier to make. Onions and kumquats are slowly caramelized with ginger and agave nectar and added to slightly sautéed kale. What could be better than a dish that's delicious, healthy and simple?

I was inspired to make this dish by a reader. Chef Doreen T. Ross is a culinary artist and consultant from North Carolina. Doreen sent me a recipe suggestion using kumquats (I've asked for recipes using this ingredient) with wilted kale. I've adapted Doreen's recipe and added an Asian twist to it. Sunny and Lulu were my guinea pigs, and they loved it. Merci Doreen!

As I've said several times, I'm just a home-cook who is passionate about food and has had no professional training. Creating this site has really broadened my culinary horizons. I've received many lovely messages filled with kind words and a ton of tips and culinary tricks. Thank you all for your support, and please keep those messages coming.